Bochy: Posey is here to play 1B; Bengie is the catcher

I was chatting with one of the vets on the team as 3 o’clock drew near and I said I had to go outside for a press conference. “You mean for Jesus Christ?” the player said with a hearty laugh.

He was being facetious. He understands the high expectations surrounding Buster Posey, which everyone around here is trying to downplay, Posey included.

“There are a lot of good hitters on this team,” Posey said. “I don’t feel I have to do a lot of extraordinary things to help us get wins.”

After Posey talked, manager Bruce Bochy explained why the move was made now and, more important, what Posey will be doing here. Namely, he will play first base and Bengie Molina will catch.

“Bengie and I talked about a few things,” Bochy said. “Bengie knows he’s going to be the guy catching back there. This doesn’t affect Bengie in any way.

“Right now, primarily (Posey) is going to be at first base. That’s where he’ll get the bulk of his playing time. He does give us some flexibility (behind the plate), but Bengie is going to be catching tomorrow. He’ll still get his days off, and Whitey’s (Eli Whiteside)

doing a good job catching Sanchez. How much (Posey) will get behind the plate, I can’t say.”

Posey wants to catch and said he hopes first base his a “short-term thing,” but he also knows he’s not in position to make those calls.

As to why the Posey move was made now, Bochy said it was simply a need for another position player when the Giants returned to 12 pitchers (they optioned Waldis Joaquin to Fresno), “and this is a good opportunity for Buster to get some at-bats up here at first base.”

Bochy also would not commit to Posey being here all season. Once Edgar Renteria and Mark DeRosa return, the entire situation, including Posey’s performance here, will be reassessed.

Two other notes: The Pat Burrell deal is done and he is joining Fresno in Salt Lake City. Bochy said his primary role in San Francisco if he is promoted will be pinch-hitting, though he might start against certain pitchers.

Joining Burrell with Fresno is reliever Brandon Medders, on a rehab stint. He is on the DL with right-knee tendinitis.